PAGLAUM means HOPE in the vernacular. With the vision and mission it pursues. PAGLAUM MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE looms as the hope of the once struggling cooperative movement in Misamis Occidental; at the town of Plaridel; and of the thirty five (35) industrious, visionary and hopeful leaders.

PAGLAUM MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE exits for a special purpose of having dreams fulfilled, and meeting expectations and aspiration. It started to bring hope, fulfilling its role as the livelihood arm of the Paglaum Community Development Foundation that seeks for the upliftment of the quality of life of the people in the underprivileged communities in Plaridel, Misamis Occidental. The Foundation works with child development through a holistic approach. It is anchored on self-reliance, building self-directives, and creating self-generative members. It also assists in the full development of the poorest of the poor in the community by helping them help themselves.

True to its name, Paglaum MPC (PMPC) evolved from just having 35 members with a meager Two Thousand Pesos (P 2,000.00) initial capital in 1992 to metamorphosed into a P100M cooperative with 30,000 members today, and it has been reaching out, building hopes and achieving dreams.

Guided and led by the Foundation’s Executive Director, the young, vibrant and multi awarded, an action man personified with ideas, strength and compassion, Mr. Gadwin E. Handumon, PAGLAUM MPC, first ventured into palay trading. With the collaborative efforts support of the NFA, the Farm Level Grains Center (FLGC) was created.

From then on, Paglaum MPC continued to expand its services as it specially offers micro finance program for person with disabilities (PWDs). Often discriminated in the society, this vulnerable sector has been misjudged as less productive. But as the challenge of carrying out the mission of hope is deeply embedded in the heart of every Paglaum MPC members, PWDs have been given extra special attention having been provided the means of unfolding of a beautiful story that touched their lives as they continue to live more sufficiently.

Forging strong partnership with Landbank Countryside Development Foundation Inc. Paglaum MPC has brought its services to the Indigenous People (IPs) of Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur. Most often, farm products of IPs are both very cheap by middlemen traders, Paglaum MPC is in rescue as it brings its services of financial management and entrepreneurial training. As Paglaum MPC goes to the hinterlands to promote entrepreneurial; skills training, it also bring with them the capital formation or financial assistance couple with the teaching and encouragement of savings and capital build-up.

As it reaches out to the communities in the hinterlands through the teachings and learnings of cooperativism, it has become an instrument in developing communities. Paglaum MPC has caused the lighting up of Barangay Pedagan, Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur through its Micro-solar energy project. Located in far-flung areas, remote as anyone can imagine for they have not been reached by electricity or any other equipment since only horses can transport people. Today these remote areas are well-fight, thanks to the program and services of Paglaum MPC which enabled them the installation of Solar Energy panels and therefore creating brighter barangays.

On November 15, 2007, Paglaum MPC started to operate the Pinoy Coop ATM in Plaridel. The first in Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga del Norte. This has given the members and even non-members a 24/7 (24 hours a day in 7 days a week). Access to use of the much needed of the banking system. In partnership with MASS-SPECC, its program initiator, it is connected with the worldwide Megalink, Expressnet and Bancnet providers.

Reaching out and empowering lives, countless are the Paglaum MPCs ways of bringing hope. As it open numerous branches all over Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga, it creates the waves of raves of the intends spirit of cooperativism and ocean of hope glistens over the horizon.

Hon. Loreto Leo S. Ocampos, Governor, Misamis Occidental, aptly describe Paglaum MPC stating that “…Being the 2006 National Most Outstanding Cooperative in the COOP-LGU Partnership Award, it has proven its worth as stewards of our motherland and, more importantly, it has resolutely loosed the ropes of hope to the growing masses who have nothing more but their spirits to continue living their lives.

Services, teachings, and deeds more worthy than commendations, citations and awards that they have reaped over the years, the cooperative continues to sow for there is no stopping in reaching out to others, offering the much needed hope to rise up above the challenges of the trying times. Basically and foremost, giving hope to the seemingly hopeless is the, mission and objective of PAGLAUM MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE.